The OJHL has unveiled its return to play plan.
The league expects to be back in action in “early-January.”
The plan proposes between 30-36 regular season games and a shortened playoff format, which would include a reduction of games played in each playoff series.
“The OJHL is now fully prepared, once approval from our governing authorities has been granted, to move forward with a 30-36 game schedule with a potential start in early-January,” said Marty Savoy, OJHL Commissioner. “While we would have liked to announce a planned start date earlier in the year, we felt it best to work alongside all relevant authorities to give us the utmost in confidence surrounding all elements of our return to play plan and our planned start. This would include a modified playoff schedule with best-of-three series replacing our traditional best-of-seven series.”
According to the OJHL, some teams have already started a bubbling process.
Some of the key rules changes include:
- Elimination of post-whistle scrums or altercations.
- No body contact.
- All OJHL team officials, volunteers and support staff agree they will comply with all laws of Ontario, the municipality and Regional Public Health Authority where the game is being played.
- Enforcement of all players wearing an approved ‘bubble’ face mask and facial covering.
- The number of players allowed to dress as well as bench seating requirements will depend on the facility structure and Public Health Unit.
- Masks mandated to be worn at all times in dressing rooms and other common areas in and around the building.
- Enhanced cleaning and disinfectant process in frequent, high touch areas.
- Team benches must be disinfected at the end of each period.
OJHL Chairman Marc Mercier says, “Hockey is part of the heartbeat of our nation and having our players to return to the ice is a material and responsible step in the pandemic recovery process for hundreds of players who rely on the game for realizing their development, physical and mental wellness needs.”
Mercier adds, “None of this would be possible without the incredible support and very responsive involvement of the many public health units which are responsible for the locales where we play. In conjunction with PHU co-operation, our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Chrobak, has done a remarkable job assisting us along the way and we want to acknowledge her contributions.”
The OJHL says that teams have been in a training phase for the last number of weeks with the plan on getting rosters down to 25 players. Once clubs are down to a maximum 25 players on their rosters, they are then eligible to start playing scrimmage or non-contact games that follow the league’s governing regulations and otherwise comply with applicable PHU regulations and guidelines.
We have reached out to the Milton Menace organization for its thoughts on the return to play plan.
